I'm trying to guage what people's favorite mentalism effects are - notably for close-up. (ie not with dodgy gimmicks which plants questions in peoples mind as to why you are using them)

:kermit:

Mine is the invisible deck, and the use of a one-way forcing deck like on Derren Brown's Devilish Deception vid.

My favorite impromptu routines are the CT and "Brainwave Chain". The latter is done with a tiny brainwave deck, which is attached to my key-chain. A compbination of the two tricks are ideal for "table-hopping" or one-to-one-situations in a newspaper office for example.

Any questions? Feel free to ask!

TED LESLEY

If "no-cards" mentalism, the CT is certainly the best tool. Try "Geometear" from Water's MMM.
If cards are acceptable, try "Triple Prediction" (100% impromptu, cards in spectator's hands). And conclude this one with a Cartomancy Reading, which transforms what could be seen as a cool card trick into a "real mentalism" piece...

Booktests.

Please Ted, can you say a little more to the "Brainwave Chain"? Is this only a very small brainwave deck? How is the handling of such a small deck?
Manfredo

Hello Manfredo,
Yes, this is a small "Barainwave-Deck" made up exactly like Joe Berg`s "ULTRA-MENTAL-DECK". The handling is easy, the cards are held by the thumb and the first finger of the left hand. Thumb and forefinger of the right hand fan and spread the cards and do the "secret something", what its secret is is I have forgotten

If you want more about this deck, let me know by private mail please.

ESPecially

TED Lesley

Sorry to be such an amateur,

What is CT? (Thanks again for your book, Paramiracles, Mr. Lesley!)

CT = Centre Tear

If you have a couple for whom you are performing, Mark Strivings markets a very nice effect called "Warm Fuzzies Up Close". It is a compatability test for the couple and, in my experience, gets a very good reaction.

It uses business cards and stones, all supplied.

Best regards,
Tony Razzano

If I'm having dinner with my friends I really enjoy bending silverware, though I've read in other posts how that's overdone these days. I also like Contimental by Max Maven, which I've memorized, because it requires virtually no set-up, and usually leaves quite an impression. Also, I like Gregory Wilson's take on the old ashes trick with lipstick, and thumbtip tricks too.



OT: Where do you guys like to practice your stuff? Believe it or not, I've found that strip clubs offer great environments, because of the number of different personalities available that come up to you, and it's a good way to practice your patter(I usually get a dance first then ask them if they have time to help me with an "exercise"). Plus it's better conversation than the standard "Where are you from? Have you danced here long? Is your real name Mustang?" and so forth that they hear all day long.

And hey, naked girls...

I practice in front of the mirror. It affords me a 100% hit rate as I usually know what I'm thinking.

Charles

My favorites:
1) CARDS: Harry Anderson's CHILDREN'S YARD SALE from MAGICK.
2) NO CARDS: PHANTOM ARTIST from PME &/or The Jinx

Reversal in P.S by Steve Banachek. This trick is an "improvement" or variation to an old principle which really kills. Don't miss it and do try it out.

Do as I Did- Ortiz

One of my favourite mentalism effects is Penonmenen. Easy setup and works perfectly for me all the time.

Cards? Favorite? Naaaa...
Maybe to use cards here and there in a show - but to call a cards-mental magic favorite??? I wouldn't go that far.

The best piece I do, EVERYWHERE is the confabulation. Nothing else matters. I carry my special (card to)-wallet with me anytime just for this cause. LOVVVVVE IT!

Ehud Segev.

Actually, that's Leslie Anderson's, not Harry's (IIRC, Leslie is Harry's wife).

--Andy

My first choice would be billet work. I prefer to use a peek rather than a tear, but either can be wonderful. I highly recommend Millard Longmans Acidus Novus.

Stan

In the impromptu department:

Using the "power of my mind" to move something, such as a fork on the tabletop. Presented properly, even a small movement gets a huge reaction. Use a Loop.

Anoher favorite: The John Kennedy/Tim Conover Mind Power Deck (I constructed my own version with Bicycle cards) or an Osterlind-stacked deck for straight mind-reading.

Jerry

Has everyone forgotten Kollosal Killer?
(shuffle this invisible deck and pick out any card that you want.....open the box first.....)
It just has to be my favourite closely followed by the Full Monte ( Ahead of the pack).

and yes some people still dont know Grey Elephant from Denmark
( or Yellow Zebra from Africa )